Knitting the Perfect Fit

This book is all about using fully fashioned shaping t0 achieve couture results.

Do you know the term fully fashioned? I used to see it all the time in knitting patterns years ago, as in “Shape the fully fashioned armholes.” In the introduction to this book, Melissa Leapman explains the concept of fully fashioning:

“It is the construction difference between an $80 J. Crew cashmere V-neck sweater and the one that sells for $200 in the same catalog. Though both are knitted out of the same soft yarn, the less expensive sweater is usually made by assembling front, back, or sleeve pieces cut from huge bolts of machine-knit fabric and then sewn with a serger, while the more expensive sweater is created with hand-manipulated, machine-made knitting stitches.”

It’s all in the details.

The book covers a lot of basic information.

There’s a lot of great information on increase and decrease methods, how to read a chart, etc.

There are a number of exercises with instructions for swatches to knit that demonstrate the techniques being explained.

There are 19 patterns for sweaters, and each one of them has information on the type of figure the particular pattern will flatter.

The appendix has a lot of great information as well — lots of how-tos for general techniques and finishing.

I am pleased to note that all the sweater designs but one are knit in pieces. Longtime readers know of my preference for knitting a garment in pieces and sewing it together. I maintain that you get a better fit and the sweater will hang better with seams. There are times, of course, when a design lends itself to being knitted in the round, but knitting something in the rounds because you don’t like seaming does not always give the best results.

All in all, this looks like a great book for anyone who is interested in creating better fitting knits.

Great review Wendy! Will have to save for this book! Great one to have for my knitting library. I agree that knitting sweaters in pieces helps it fit better! I am not a fan of knitting in the round either!

Hi Wendy, hope you are managing the summer heat while knitting your massive project! I had fun with the mystery shawl (first lace project), loved the results although far from perfect. I can safely say, I am hooked! Having the mystery shawl to play with kept me in the game to finish…Thank you, thank you.

As a hobby seamstress, I found it natural to form fit my knitted items too, it takes longer to knit and design but it’s well worth it. I found that the attempt to hide a not perfectly fit tummy with baggy clothes makes me look fat, while figure hugging clothes makes me look normal if not skinnier.
I haven’t noticed any difference in shape holding ability between knitwear made from pieces and the seamless ones (that I prefer). I suppose that the shape holding is tied to the size; the larger garment = more yarn in it , more yarn = heavier, heavier = tension while wearing…

You are probably right that knitting in pieces gives better fit, but if the difference is a good-great fit versus an awesome fit that might never happen because someone dislikes seaming, then there is nothing wrong with taking a slightly easier route.

My seaming is not quite good enough, so it takes me a ton of tries to get a good finish on a seamed sweater. I can do it, but it does make seamless (or low seam) sweaters much more attractive.Seanna Lea´s last blog post ..Swimming

Interesting I would like to see them actually ” assembling front, back, or sleeve pieces cut from huge bolts of machine-knit fabric and then sewn with a serger” it would be al quite interesting to see how they “hand-manipulated, machine-made knitting stitches.”brandi´s last blog post ..Oh The Fiber – Illustrious Ile de France sheep

I sure do need to buy this book! I have a sweater that’s 3/4’s finished (for the past two years) that I knit in the round (per the pattern) and I think it looks like a shapeless bag. However it’s not for me, but for my sis who is more amply proportioned that I am. I guess I should finish it and give it to her for Christmas. (whether it fits right or not!)

I am not a fan of seaming sweaters and prefer to knit in the round but most of what I make is for my niece’s two little boys. I have yet to knit a sweater for an adult. I have made a few sweaters with seams for children but didn’t quite like how they turned out. I need to take a class in finishing from someone who is an expert at it. Any suggestions for someone who leaves near Seattle?

I’m looking forward to seeing your denim jacket. I think it *would* be a massive project, especially if there are a lot of details. Wendy, between existing patterns and your own designs, don’t you ever feel overwhelmed at the choice? You finish a lot of projects, but there are sooo many patterns – not counting your own!

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